Monroe Free was honored with the Order of the Palmetto Wednesday night.
The Order of the Palmetto is awarded to South Carolinians who demonstrate extraordinary lifetime achievement, service, and contributions of national or statewide significance. Since 2009, Monroe Free has served as the President and CEO of Habitat Greenville. He is retiring at the end of the month and LaTonya Phillips will be leading the nonprofit going forward.
During his more than four decade career across the Southeast, Free focused on helping socially and economically disenfranchised people. He has consulted and worked with dozens of nonprofits throughout the Southeast helping with communications strategy, infrastructure development and fundraising. Since Free took the helm of Habitat Greenville the organization has experienced tremendous growth in its capacity to serve the families of Greenville County as well as expanding into Laurens County.
He has consistently ensured that the voice of those that Habitat serves drives the organization’s mission, and that the voices of all are a part of the affordable housing conversation in Greenville.
In the past 15 years Habitat Greenville has accomplished the following:
- More than 300 houses built.
- More than 300 weatherization/rehab projects.
- Started the CEO Build which brings together community and business leaders together yearly to work on a house.
- Creation of Dinner on Ice, the main fundraising event for the organization and done with the partnership of The Greenville Swamp Rabbits and the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
- Earned awards from TogetherSC, the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, GuideStar and many others for serving the community.
- He was a founding partner of what is now the Greenville Housing Fund, and most recently served as co-chair of the Steering Committee.
- He was instrumental in creating Habitat South Carolina — the Affiliate Support Organization supporting all of the South Carolina Habitat Affiliates.
After receiving the award from board chairman Rich Hagins, Free explained what led him to a life of service.
“Each of us gets to be an instrument of miraculous work,” Free said. “I believe that when we serve a meal for the poor or swing a hammer for a family in need of housing, when we shelter the homeless, when we give a kind word to someone who is wearied and distressed, we create the miracle process.”
